Ski device for use with a snow removal device

ABSTRACT

A ski device for use in combination with a snow removal device (such as a roof rake) is disclosed. The ski device includes ski portions that may be used to protect a surface (such as a roof surface) from damage by preventing a head of the snow removal device from directly contacting and scraping along the surface from which snow, ice, and/or debris is to be removed. The ski device also allows the amount of clearance between the head of the snow removal device and the surface to be adjusted. This allows a user to position the ski device to provide for a desired amount of clearance, which allows for adjustment of the amount of snow, ice, and/or debris that is to be removed, as well to allow for clearance of other structures (such as rain deflectors, etc.) on the surface.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/931,558, filed on Nov. 3, 2015, and titled “SKI DEVICE FORUSE WITH A SNOW REMOVAL DEVICE,” the disclosure of which is expresslyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices for assisting in removing snowand other debris from buildings, houses, structures, and other areas.

BACKGROUND

In general, during the winter months certain geographic areas experiencecolder temperatures and snowfall. During and after periods of snowfall,houses, buildings, and other areas may be coated or covered with varyingamounts of snow and ice. The efficiency and usefulness of currentdevices to remove such snow and ice can cause damage to roofs and/or bedifficult to use based on the amount of snowfall.

SUMMARY

A ski device for use in combination with a snow removal device (such asa roof rake) is disclosed. The ski device includes ski portions that maybe used to protect a surface (such as a roof surface) from damage bypreventing a head of the snow removal device from directly contactingand scraping along the surface from which snow, ice, and/or debris is tobe removed. The ski device also allows the amount of clearance betweenthe head of the snow removal device and the surface to be adjusted. Thisallows a user to position the ski device to provide for a desired amountof clearance, which allows for adjustment of the amount of snow, ice,and/or debris that is to be removed, as well to allow for clearance ofother structures (such as rain deflectors, etc.) on the surface.

In an embodiment, the ski device includes a first ski portion extendingin a first direction and a second ski portion extending in a seconddirection opposite the first direction. An accordion type joint joinsthe first ski portion and the second ski portion together. The accordiontype joint also allows for receipt of a head of a snow removal deviceand positioning of the first ski portion on a first side of the head andthe second ski portion on a second side of the head. The accordion typejoint may form a flexible “M” type joint.

An aperture is provided in the accordion type joint for receiving afastener to couple the ski device to the head. The aperture may be anelongated aperture that allows for a position of the ski device to beadjusted with respect to the head. This allows for adjustment of aheight of clearance between the head and a surface when removing snow,ice, or other debris from the surface.

In another embodiment, the ski device includes a first ski portionextending in a first direction and a second ski portion extending in asecond direction opposite the first direction. The first ski portion ispositionable on a first side of a head of a snow removal device and thesecond ski portion is positionable on a second side of the head. Thefirst ski portion may include a first base portion and a first tipportion that is angled with respect to a plane of the first baseportion. Similarly, the second ski portion may include a second baseportion and a second tip portion that is angled with respect to a planeof the second base portion.

An accordion type joint may join the first ski portion and the secondski portion. The accordion type joint allows for receipt of the head andpositioning of the first ski portion on the first side of the head andthe second ski portion on the second side of the head. An aperture mayalso be provided in the accordion type joint for receiving a fastener tocouple the first ski portion and the second ski portion to the head. Asmentioned above, the aperture may be an elongated aperture that allowsfor a position of the ski device to be adjusted with respect to thehead. This allows for adjustment of a height of clearance between thehead and a surface when removing snow, ice, or other debris from thesurface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

An embodiment of an extendable device is illustrated in the figures ofthe accompanying drawings which are meant to be exemplary and notlimiting, in which like references are intended to refer to like orcorresponding parts, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a ski device being used inconjunction with a snow removal device according to embodiments of thedisclosure.

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a ski device in an open stateaccording to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of a ski device in a closed stateaccording to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of a snow removal device for usewith the ski device according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate perspective views of coupling the ski device to thesnow removal device according to embodiments of the disclosure.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate perspective views of the ski device being usedin conjunction with the snow removal device according to embodiments ofthe disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Detailed embodiments of ski type devices for assisting in removing snowand other debris from buildings, houses, structures, and other areas aredisclosed herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosedembodiments are merely exemplary of the device, which may be embodied invarious forms. Therefore, specific functional details disclosed hereinare not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for theclaims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the artto variously employ the present disclosure.

Referring to FIG. 1, a ski device 100 for use in combination with a snowremoval device 200 (such as a roof rake) is disclosed. The ski device100 includes ski portions that may be used to protect a surface 300(such as a roof surface) from damage by preventing a head of the snowremoval device 200 from directly contacting and scraping along thesurface from which snow, ice, and/or debris is to be removed. The skidevice 100 also allows the amount of clearance between the head of thesnow removal device 200 and the surface 300 to be adjusted. This allowsa user to position the ski device 100 to provide for a desired amount ofclearance, which allows for adjustment of the amount of snow, ice,and/or debris that is to be removed, as well to allow for clearance ofother structures (such as rain deflectors, etc.) on the surface 300.

The ski device 100 for assisting in removing snow and other debris frombuildings, houses, structures, and other areas according to anillustrative embodiment is described with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3. Asillustrated, the ski device 100 includes a first ski portion 102extending in a first direction and a second ski portion 104 extending ina second direction opposite the first direction. The first ski portion102 and the second ski portion 104 are coupled together by an accordiontype joint 106 (which in this embodiment forms a flexible “M” typejoint).

The first ski portion 102 includes a first base portion 108 that issubstantially flat and has a bottom that is configured to glide on snowand ice. The first base portion 108 extends from the accordion typejoint 106 in the first direction, away from the accordion type joint106, and terminates with a first tip portion 110 (also referred to asthe first end). As illustrated, the first tip portion 110 is turnedupward at a first angle to assist in guiding the first ski portion 102over snow and ice. For example, the first tip portion 110 may be turnedupward at an angle with respect to a plane of the first base portion 108in a direction toward a top portion of the first ski portion 102.

The second ski portion is similar to the first ski portion 102. Forexample, the second ski portion 104 includes a second base portion 112that is substantially flat and has a bottom that is configured to glideon snow and ice. The second base portion 112 extends from the accordiontype joint 106 in the second direction, away from the accordion typejoint 106, and terminates with a second tip portion 114 (also referredto as the second end). The second tip potion 114 is also turned upwardat a second angle (which may be the same as the first angle) to assistin guiding the second ski portion 104 over snow and ice. For example,the second tip portion 114 may be turned upward at an angle with respectto a plane of the second base portion 112 in a direction toward a topportion of the second ski portion 104.

The accordion type joint 106 includes a plurality of portions that formthe accordion type joint 106. As illustrated, the accordion type joint106 includes four portions: a first portion 116, a second portion 118, athird portion 120, and a fourth portion 122 joined together at theirrespective ends. The first and second portions 116, 118 extend from therespective first and second base portions 108, 112, and are joinedtogether by the third and fourth portions 120, 122. More specifically,the first portion 116 extends, at end 124, from the first base portion108 of the first ski portion 102 in a direction substantially orthogonalto the plane of the first base portion 108. The end 124 forms a jointbetween the first portion 116 and the first base portion 108. Similarly,the second portion 118 extends, at end 126, from the second base portion112 of the second ski portion 104 in a direction substantiallyorthogonal to the plane of the second base portion 112. The end 126forms a joint between the second portion 118 and the second base portion112.

The third portion 120 extends from end 128, which forms a joint betweenthe third portion 120 and the first portion 116, to end 130, which formsa joint between the third portion 120 and the fourth portion 122.Similarly, the fourth portion 122 extends from end 130 to end 132, whichforms a joint between the fourth portion 122 and the second portion 118.Thus, the accordion type joint 106 forms a “M” type shape when expanded.Additionally, while the accordion type joint 106 is illustrated anddescribed as having four portions, the accordion type joint 106 mayinclude more than four portions to provide for additional structuralstrength and stability as desired.

As illustrated, the portions of the ski device 100 described above areformed of a single, monolithic piece of flexible metal to allow the skidevice 100 to contour to fit onto a snow removal device (also known as aroof rake) and contour to glide on a roof line of a structure (such as ahouse). The ski device 100 may be made of metal, plastic, or othersuitable material. In one embodiment, the ski device 100 is made ofaluminum; however, other types of metal or plastic may be used.

The first-fourth portions 116-122 of the accordion type joint 106 alsoinclude respective first-fourth apertures 134-140, as best illustratedin FIG. 2 illustrating the ski device 100 in an expanded state. Thefirst-fourth apertures 134-140 are positioned to align with one anotherwhen the ski device 100 is in a collapsed state, as illustrated in FIG.3. This allows for a fastener 142 (illustrated as a threaded bolt) to beinserted through all of the first-fourth apertures 134-140. A nut 144(illustrated as a wing-nut) may be threaded onto the fastener 142 tosecure the ski device 100 onto a snow removal device, as described infurther detail below. In one embodiment, the first-fourth apertures134-140 are elongated slots extending lengthwise through the respectivefirst-fourth portions 116-122 of the accordion type joint 106. Thisallows for the position of the fastener 142 to be adjusted along thelength of the first-fourth apertures 134-140. This adjustment allows forthe position or height of clearance between an end of a snow removaldevice and a roof line to be adjusted. However, the apertures 134-140may be a single circular or other shape hole at a predefined positionalong the first-fourth portions 116-122 of the accordion type joint 106.

As mentioned above, the ski device 100 is to be coupled to a snowremoval device (such as a roof rake) to allow for the snow removaldevice to glide over a roof line to remove snow, ice, or other debris. Asnow removal device 200 that may be used with the ski device 100 toremove snow and other debris from buildings, houses, structures, andother areas according to an illustrative embodiment is described withreference to FIG. 4. The snow removal device 200 includes a handle 202coupled to a snow removal head 204.

The handle 202 may include one or more braces 206 that are also coupledto the snow removal head 204 and the handle 202 to provide additionalstructural strength and stability to the snow removal device 200. Thehandle 202 may also include an elbow portion 208 that allows for a userto align the snow removal head 204 with a roof line and/or other surfaceto remove snow, ice, and/or other debris from the surface.

The snow removal head 204 may include an angled portion 210 that assistsin capturing snow, ice, and other debris to allow a user to remove snow,ice, and/or other debris from the roof and/or other surface. Asillustrated, the snow removal head 204 includes two apertures 212proximal to opposing edges of the angled portion 210. These apertures212 are used to couple respective ski devices 100 to the snow removalhead 204, as described in further detail below. It should be appreciatedthat the apertures 212 may be formed during manufacture of the snowremoval device 200 and/or by a purchaser/user of the snow removal device200 using a drill or other suitable tool.

FIGS. 5-7 illustrate installation of a pair of ski devices 100 onto thesnow removal device 200. As illustrated, a first and second ski devices100 may be installed on the snow removal device 200. While installationof one ski device 100 is described below, it should be appreciated thatinstallation of the second ski device 100 may be performed in the samemanner.

To install the ski device 100 onto the snow removal device 200, theaccordion type joint 106 is expanded to an expanded state. This forms agap between the third and fourth portions 120, 122 of the accordion typejoint 106. The angled portion 210 of the snow removal head 204 is thenplaced in the gap and the aperture 212 is aligned with the first-fourthapertures 134-140 in the respective first-fourth portions 116-122 of theaccordion type joint 106. The accordion type joint 106 is thencompressed to place the ski device 100 is a compressed state, and thefastener 142 is placed through the first-fourth portions 116-122 as wellas the aperture 212. The nut 144 is threaded onto the fastener 142thereby coupling the ski device 100 to the snow removal head 204. Awasher 146 may also be placed on the fastener 142 between the nut 144and the accordion type joint 106 if desired.

The complete installation of the ski device 100 on the snow removal head204 is illustrated in FIGS. 6-9. As illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, theski device 100 is installed with the fastener 142 positioned closer to abottom of the elongated first-fourth apertures 134-140 than to a top ofthe elongated first-fourth apertures 134-140. This provides for a lowerclearance between the snow removal head 204 and a surface 300 (such as aroof) that snow, ice, and/or debris is to be removed from. Referring toFIGS. 7 and 9, to provide for greater clearance, the nut 144 may beloosened and the ski device 100 moved to position the fastener 142closer to the top of the elongated first-fourth apertures 134-140 thanto the bottom of the elongated first-fourth apertures 134-140. Thisprovides for a greater amount of clearance between the snow removal head204 and the surface 300 (such as a roof).

As illustrated in FIGS. 1, 8 and 9, the surface 300 may be a roof.Further, a user is able to adjust the amount of snow, ice, and/or debristo be removed, as well as the amount of clearance the user desires, forexample, to allow for clearance of other structures (such as raindeflectors, etc.) on the roof 300.

The ski device 100 protects the surface (such as roof surface 300) fromdamage. For example, the ski device 100 prevents the snow removal head204 from directly contacting and being scraped along the surface fromwhich snow, ice, and/or debris is to be removed. The ski device 100 alsoallows the snow removal head 204 to glide along the surface of the roofand/or on a layer of snow, ice, or other debris on the surface. Thisincreases the ease of use of the snow removal device 200 by a user.

Although the devices and methods have been described and illustrated inconnection with certain embodiments, many variations and modificationswill be evident to those skilled in the art and may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the disclosure. For example,while the ski device 100 is describe as including an accordion typejoint that is used to couple the ski device 100 to the snow removaldevice 200, it should be appreciated that the first ski portion 102 andthe second ski portion 104 may be separate pieces. In this respect, thefirst ski portion 102, along with the first portion 116, and the secondski portion 104, along with the second portion 118, may be placed onopposing sides of the snow removal head 204 and coupled to the snowremoval head 204 using the fastener 142 to clamp the snow removal head204 between the first and second portions 116, 118.

The disclosure is thus not to be limited to the precise details ofmethodology or construction set forth herein as such variations andmodification are intended to be included within the scope of thedisclosure. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the termsfirst, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but ratherthe terms first, second, etc. are merely used to distinguish one elementfrom another.

What is claimed is:
 1. A ski device, comprising: a first ski portionextending in a first direction; a second ski portion extending in asecond direction opposite the first direction; an accordion type jointjoining the first ski portion and the second ski portion, the accordiontype joint allowing for receipt of a head of a snow removal device andpositioning of the first ski portion on a first side of the head and thesecond ski portion on a second side of the head; and an aperture in theaccordion type joint for receiving a fastener to couple the ski deviceto the head.
 2. The ski device of claim 1, in which the accordion typejoint comprises at least four portions folded to form a flexible “M”type joint.
 3. The ski device of claim 1, in which the aperture is anelongated aperture that allows for a position of the ski device to beadjusted with respect to the head.
 4. A ski device, comprising: a firstski portion extending in a first direction; a second ski portionextending in a second direction opposite the first direction, the firstski portion positionable on a first side of a head of a snow removaldevice and the second ski portion positionable on a second side of thehead; an accordion type joint joining the first ski portion and thesecond ski portion, the accordion type joint comprising at least fourportions for forming a flexible “M” type joint; and an aperture in eachof the at least four portions of the accordion type joint for receivinga fastener to couple the first ski portion and the second ski portion tothe head, each of the apertures positioned to align with one anotherwhen the accordion type joint is in a collapsed state.
 5. The ski deviceof claim 4, in which the first ski portion includes a first base portionand a first tip portion that is angled with respect to a plane of thefirst base portion.
 6. The ski device of claim 4, in which the secondski portion includes a second base portion and a second tip portion thatis angled with respect to a plane of the second base portion.
 7. The skidevice of claim 4, in which the accordion type joint allows for receiptof the head and positioning of the first ski portion on the first sideof the head and the second ski portion on the second side of the head.8. The ski device of claim 7, in which the aperture is an elongatedaperture that allows for a position of the ski device to be adjustedwith respect to the head.
 9. The ski device of claim 2, in which theaperture further comprises an aperture in each of the at least fourportions of the accordion type joint for receiving the fastener tocouple the ski device to the head, each of the apertures positioned toalign with one another when the accordion type joint is in a collapsedstate.